Princess Jill Never Sits Still (Somos Ocho)

The King and Queen long for a child; one happy day, a daughter is born. They name her Jill. They are thrilled to put her in pretty dresses and fix her hair, but once Jill can walk, she is never still. All the workers of the palace complain that Princess Jill never sits still. The royal couple asks for help from wise men, witches, and sorcerers; nothing seems to help. Then comes the news that the royal family from Farawaylandia are coming to visit. The Queen laments at the coming. The visiting monarchs come to ask where the princess is, and the Queen points up to the chandelier. What do you think the Queen from Farawaylandia’s reaction will be?

The writing in this book was clever. Some of the lines didn’t flow as well as I would have liked, but it’s hilarious and fun nonetheless. I loved that they just called the far-off kingdom Farawaylandia. I found it quite hilarious and applicable as every visiting monarch is from a far away land of some sort it seems. The ending made me cheer for those kids who don’t sit still because they will become something wonderful too. The illustrations were a unique blend of black and white as well as color. The king and queen’s hair were spot on for the time, which add to the humor of the pictures. My children, three and six, loved this book and immediately wanted to read it again. They especially enjoyed seeing Jill run all over the palace, garden, or wherever she happened to be. I recommend this book for ages three to seven.